GAME PLAN

WHEN THE PATRIOTS RUN

Quarterback play dominates talk around the Patriots’ offense, but their formula for victory starts on the ground. New England scored eight touchdowns in two playoff games on the road to Atlanta. Seven were rushing scores (and five from Sony Michel to set a rookie NFL postseason record). The Rams’ interior line headlined by Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh is their true defensive strength, but Los Angeles also gave up 100-plus yards on the ground in 11 games this season — including 273 versus the Seahawks. Expect a heavy dose of run from New England. It will be difficult to stop. Edge: Patriots.

WHEN THE PATRIOTS PASS

Quarterback Tom Brady will make his 40th career postseason start Sunday touting a 29-10 record and five Super Bowl rings. Brady’s receiving talent is nothing flashy this season with 5-foot-10 Julian Edelman (team-leading 850 yards receiving and six touchdowns) as Brady’s best option. His challenge will be dissecting one of the league’s toughest cover corners in L.A.’s Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters. But disrupting Brady with a consistent pass rush is the first step toward limiting his production. A most difficult task against arguably the greatest to ever play his position. Edge: Patriots.

WHEN THE RAMS RUN

Rams running back Todd Gurley, the 2017 AP Offensive Player of the Year, has struggled to regain elite form since a December knee injury and rushed just four times for 10 yards in their NFC Championship game. Los Angeles turned to running back C.J. Anderson to fill the void and he has thrived with more than 100 yards rushing in three of his last four outings. New England’s run defense has been its biggest weakness as opponents averaged 4.9 yards per carry in the regular season. Expect a healthy Gurley to be more involved to create a dynamic L.A. rushing duo. Edge: Rams.

WHEN THE RAMS PASS

Rams quarterback Jared Goff’s emergence under coach Sean McVay is no joke. Goff set career highs in completion percentage (64.9), passing yards (4,688) and passing touchdowns (32), mostly utilizing the downfield threats of Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods. However, opponents sacked Goff 33 times in the regular season and the Patriots’ secondary has accounted for 18 interceptions. It will be a true test for Goff, 24, in his third NFL season against talented New England cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore and Jason McCourty. McVay’s new-age offensive philosophy is Goff’s wild card. Edge: Rams.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Patriots feature the game’s best kick return man in Cordarrelle Patterson (28.8 yard/average and one touchdown). But the Rams have a better placekicker in Greg Zuerlein (five of seven on attempts of more than 50 yards) and punter in Johnny Hekker (21 attempts downed inside the 20-yard line). New England has deployed special teams heroics in several of their previous Super Bowl victories. But L.A. has the better overall unit this season. Edge: Rams.

THREE THINGS TO WATCH

1. Broncos-to-Rams. Denver missed out on the playoffs for a third consecutive season, but three former Broncos are featured on the Rams’ Super Bowl squad: Anderson, Talib and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. All three celebrated the last time Denver hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl XL. Will they get another opportunity Sunday?

2. L.A. trickery. McVay, 33, is the youngest head coach in Super Bowl history. His aggression and creativity as an offensive play caller is a big reason why the Rams reached the title game. It must continue against New England for L.A. to have any chance of victory. Don’t be surprised when the Rams get tricky when you least expect it with bold fourth-down or two-point conversion attempts.

3. Dynasty talk. Patriots’ coach Bill Belichick makes his ninth Super Bowl appearance with the Patriots on Sunday with five previous wins. No other NFL head coach in history has more. A sixth championship would only further cement Belichick’s place among the all-time greats in league history.

Count on a close game because that has been the norm during the Belichick-Brady New England Super Bowl Era. Sean McVay goes for it on fourth down instead of waiting for overtime to set up a field goal as time expires.

Kyle Fredrickson: Patriots 24, Rams 21

If you let Tom Brady have the ball last in a close game, expect a Patriots victory.

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